A family-run heavy engineering business based at Chilton Industrial Estate has celebrated 50 years in business this month.
Parnaby Cyclones designs, manufactures and installs sand and aggregate wash plants and equipment for the mining, quarrying, recycling and mineral industries worldwide. Founded by Derek Paranby, the company began life as a processor of coal mine waste material, running three plants, before moving solely into manufacturing and becoming a limited company in 1973.
The factory in Chilton was established in 1977 and the company has been based there ever since. By 1980 they were supplying their first coal plant internationally with an installation in Belgium and since then have installed their machinery in destinations as far and wide as North America, Colombia, India, Israel, Ukraine, DR Congo, Norway, Mongolia, South Africa, Sweden, Italy, France and even Spitzgergen, near the North Pole.
Derek’s son, Adrian took over the running of the business in the early 1990’s, and now his two sons, Ian and Ben, also work for the company. Parnaby Cyclones employs 48 people locally, many of whom are long term employees, having been with the company for over thirty years.
Most recently, the company has installed a fully operational £1m trial wash plant at its Chilton base which allows its clients to book site visits and see the processing systems at work in person using their own material. The company marked its milestone anniversary with a celebration on site with staff members.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
